Annual rose show blooms this weekend

By Jackie Bridges

Published: Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 08:07 AM.

“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” – Dale Carnegie

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr

“Truths and roses have thorns about them.” – Henry David Thoreau

“An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.” –H.L. Mencken

If you have roses growing in your yard, you are eligible to enter the 2012 Cleveland/Lincoln County Rose Society Rose Show.

Entry is free; the only catch is you have to know the name of the rose, said Jan Dumas, who serves as Rose Show co-chair with Fred Wright.

“Our rose show is our gift to the community and we hope the public will visit and enjoy the show,” Dumas said. “You have to know the name of the rose to be able to put it in its proper class.”

Members of the society raise money and ask for donations each year to provide prizes for the winning roses. Judges from North and South Carolina and Virginia volunteer their time to select the best roses in each category.

The public will be asked to vote at the “Fragrance Table” for the best fragrant rose.

“About noon when judging is over, the votes are counted and a name is drawn from the most fragrant,” Dumas said. “This person is contacted by phone and wins a rose bush.”

After the show, people will have an opportunity to buy arrangements of roses, bud vases or single roses for a nominal amount.

“Some people ask us to make arrangements for them to take to church the next day,” Dumas said.

Entries this year should be interesting, because some roses bloomed early. Dumas said she won’t have as many flowers to enter because of the earlier blooming cycle. Roses typically bloom from late April until the first frost – six to seven cycles, she said. Consulting Rosarians will be at the show to answer questions about how to grow roses and to give out literature. People who think growing roses requires too much work, should try the new “Knock Out” roses.

“They are carefree,” Dumas said. “Anyone can grow them and you see them everywhere. They are pretty in borders.”

Want to go?

The Cleveland/Lincoln County Rose Society hosts its 39th annual rose show on Saturday at Cleveland Mall. Entries will be accepted from 7 to 10 a.m. and judging will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone may enter their “named” home grown roses; society membership is not required. The rose show opens for public viewing from 1 to 4 p.m.

About the Cleveland/Lincoln Rose Society

The Cleveland County Rose Society started in the early 1970s with a few members meeting at Alston Bridges Barbecue. Charter members were Mable Bridges, Dennis and Suzy Bridges, Geraldine Melton, Glenn and Christine Smith, George and Mildred Costner and John and Laura Shuford. The first rose show was held at Cleveland County Memorial Library in 1973. The name changed to Cleveland/Lincoln Rose Society when members from Lincoln County joined the group. The society is affialiated with the Carolina District and American Rose Society in Shreveport, La.

FAMOUS QUOTES ABOUT ROSES

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” – Ben Hogan

“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” – Dale Carnegie

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr

“Truths and roses have thorns about them.” – Henry David Thoreau

“An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.” –H.L. Mencken

“Marriage is like life; it is a field of battle, not a bed of roses.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” – Emma Goldman

“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.” – George Eliot

“The sharp thorn often produces delicate roses.” –Ovid

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” – James M. Barrie

“A true poet does not bother to be poetical. Nor does a nursery gardener scent his roses.” – Jean Cocteau